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Can I Never Leave My Past Behind?
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This is the solo sung by the character Mok in 'MERDEKA: The Rock Musical' performed at Greenwood Theatre, London on 28 February - 2 March 2007, expressing his inner struggles as he tries to put his dark past behind him. Performed by Marcus Lim.
composer singapore davyd chong wenquan scarlet eclipse
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Davyd Chong WenQuan, Singapore's up and coming, award-winning songwriter, composer, arranger & pianist.
I received the Diploma in Music (Songwriting) from the World Music Foundation in 2004. Prior to this, I completed my Grade 8 in both Piano (1999) and Music Theory (2000) for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM). I also recently graduated with a Law degree from King's College London (University of London), and am currently doing a post-graduate diploma in Singapore Law at the National University of Singapore (NUS). In addition, I am a member of the Composers and Authors Society of Singapore (COMPASS), an organisation which protects and promotes the copyright interests of composers. I formed a Symphonic Rock band in June 2007 called the "Scarlet Eclipse" in Singapore, and am the composer, arranger and keyboardist. You can find out more about us at www.soundclick.com/scarleteclipse. I started composing music seriously at the age of 16. As a student of Victoria Junior College (VJC), I helped to pioneer its Piano Ensemble in 2000. I took part in the VJC Music Festival 2001, and one of my first compositions “I’ve Lost You” enabled me to clinch the 2nd prize in the “Creative Song Writing Category”. I also emerged as a finalist in the “Duet Category”. These achievements became the impetus that led me to aspire towards realizing bigger dreams. With added confidence, I actively sought out more platforms to showcase my compositions. In the following year, I took part in the Bethesda Eternity Talentime 2002, where I performed the piece “Hopeless Tears”. Not only did I clinch the 2nd prize with my solo performance, I also secured the “Best Showmanship Award” for the event. The audience’s response to my music encouraged me so deeply that I decided to cut an album on my own by the next year. Hence, in 2003, I produced my debut album entitled “Hopeless Tears” independently, and released it at the “Eighty-8” Concert organized by the VJC Piano Ensemble, which I performed as an alumnus annually. To date, more than 200 copies have been sold in Singapore. As I began to garner more support and earn myself a reputation, more avenues to perform opened up to me. I began performing on many occasions, and was even invited as the guest pianist for the “Singapore Armed Forces 9th Division Silver Jubilee” at The Fullerton Singapore, a major military event. My big break came when I won the Channel NewsAsia “Get Rea!” Song Writing Competition 2004, one of Singapore’s biggest songwriting events of the year. I received much media attention through this event, as my piece “Make It Through” was broadcast on radio, and telecast on the programs “As Rea! As It Gets” and “Get Rea!”. Currently, it is the theme song for “Get Rea!”, a reality-based current affairs show. I performed this song later at the “Eighty-8” Concert, where I released my singles album entitled “Make It Through”. And hot on the heels of that, my song “You’re My Everything” catapulted me into the international arena where I emerged as one of the top 5 (Finalist) in the Pop Category for the Song of the Year (SOTY) contest in America in June 2004. Recently, in March 2007, the song 'Pan-Demonium' which I did in collaboration with Andrew Liew, was selected by Crescent Music & Media, a national commercial music and media consultant company based in Charlotte, NJ (USA), to be catalogued and marketed to the recording, film and commercial advertising industry in America. Check out www.crescentmusicandmedia.com for more info! My interest is now veered towards composing for musicals and film. I recently composed/arranged for MERDEKA: The Rock Musical (an original musical by Marcus Lim), a major student production staged at the Greenwood Theatre in London from 28 February - 2 March 2007, and which also received rave reviews from our local press such as The Newpaper (Singapore), The Straits Times (Singapore), and The New Straits Times (Malaysia). So far, three songs from the musical received honours: 1) 'Dancing in the Dark' won 'Special Mention' for the MusicAid International Music Awards 2006 under the 'Best Compostition' category; 2) 'Pan-Demonium' was selected by Crescent Music & Media, as stated above; and 3) 'Can I Never Leave My Past Behind' (alias Hopeless Tears) was performed recently (with Marcus Lim) at The Met Opera Singing Contest on 1 September 2007 organised by Golden Village Cinemas, partnered with Canon, where it clinched 1st Prize for the competition. Finally, I'd like to thank Jesus Christ for being the author of all my inspiration.
Song Info
Genre
Pop Alt-Pop
Charts
#400 in subgenre Peak #4
Charts
Peak #70
Author
Music: Davyd Chong, Lyrics: Marcus Lim
Rights
Copyright 2007 Davyd Chong & Marcus Lim
Uploaded
October 05, 2007
Track Files
MP3
MP3 3.8 MB 128 kbps 4:10
Story behind the song
In June 2006, I was approached by Marcus Lim (also a friend of mine) to be involved in this major musical project, which will be performed in London in conjunction with the King's College London Malaysian-Singaporean Society (KCLMSS) Night 2007. I am very grateful and honoured to be given this opportunity to write the music of this musical - it's also my very first! This solo is based on my award-winning composition 'Hopeless Tears'. It was also performed recently at The Met Opera Singing Contest on 1 September 2007 organised by Golden Village Cinemas, partnered with Canon, where it clinched 1st Prize for the competition.
Lyrics
Angry faces in every doorway. Accusing looks in every town. Silent curses. Empty voices. The fear deep down. Once upon a time i saw him, The great leader in his prime. Everywhere we looked, We saw salvation in our time. We held the torch of a new dawn burning, We were the hope of a better life. No one ever told us, all this came at the point of a knife. Now! Can I escape my past, what was before? Can I never end this inner war, And all those eyes, those voices inside? That keep haunting me. Just One Chance. To leave it all behind and start anew. Forget what has been done, what I had to do. I'm not the man I was before. Just one chance! I remember when I saw her as clear as it was yesterday. White as snow... And i can still recall the teardrops falling from her eyes like rain. Over now! It's over now! But still I feel the shame. I could have done so much to free her. I should have done much more to save her. But in my dreams, she stands before me! Her eyes Begging, Pleading, Screaming, Accusing! This is the curse I have to bear! And yet... Is this the end? Can I conceal myself forever more? Can i never end this inner war? And all these eyes, these voices inside! They keep haunting me! There's no way back! For everywhere I turn, this endless rage! All of us, just players on a stage! And can no one see, its the Devil's hand! It's the Devil's hand that's turning the page! Accusing looks in every doorway Infect the prison of my mind Can I never leave my past behind?
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